Krysten Sinema a No-Go on Dems’ $3.5 Trillion Package [Updated]
[guest post by JVW]
UPDATE: Oh dear, our Adorably Ornery & Clueless niece is not at all happy:
Good luck tanking your own party’s investment on childcare, climate action, and infrastructure while presuming you’ll survive a 3 vote House margin – especially after choosing to exclude members of color from negotiations and calling that a “bipartisan accomplishment.” 👍🏽👍🏽 https://t.co/0VF8Z73vAa
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 28, 2021
And apparently neither is Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Hamas).
—- Original Post —-
The most interesting Democrat in the Senate, Krysten Sinema, is showing some remarkable independence from her party. What exactly is it about these Arizona Senators? National Review Online has the details:
Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D., Ariz.) said she does not support the $3.5 trillion partisan spending plan proposed by Democrats, in remarks to the Arizona Republic on Wednesday.
Democrats are attempting to pass a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure plan alongside the $3.5 trillion proposal. Sinema said that while she supports the goals of the $3.5 trillion proposal, such as job growth for Americans, she does not back the price tag.
“I have also made clear that while I will support beginning this process, I do not support a bill that costs $3.5 trillion,” Sinema told the Republic in a statement. Sinema did not suggest a cost she would be willing to support.
“In the coming months, I will work in good faith to develop this legislation with my colleagues and the administration to strengthen Arizona’s economy and help Arizona’s everyday families get ahead,” Sinema added.
Now it’s entirely true that she might come back a week or two from now insisting that $3.35 trillion package is totally sensible and affordable. She remains, after all, a Democrat, and there is going to be tremendous pressure on her from the White House, Chuck Schumer, and left-wing activists. There has already been grumbling from the Bernard Sanders wing of the party who initially demanded $6 trillion in stimulus and only very-reluctantly agreed to accept $3.5 trillion that they won’t agree to anything less, so somebody is going to have blink in order to push this along. With luck, Sen. Sinema’s defection will make it far easier for other jittery Democrats such as Jon Tester and Joe Manchin — along with Sen. Angus King of Maine who is registered as an independent but caucuses with the Democrats — to also demand that the party settle for a smaller sum, perhaps well below the $3 trillion mark. In any case, this has to be considered an embarrassment for the White House and for Senate Majority Leader Schumer, and a huge setback for the party’s rabid left.
– JVW
The best outcome is if Sinema, Tester, Manchin, and King demand something more like $2.5 trillion, but Sanders, Warren, Markey, Whiteclub, and other progressives refuse to budge, so the whole thing gets scotched and Senate Dems spend the next year sniping at one another.
JVW (ee64e4) — 7/28/2021 @ 1:46 pmIt’s Sinema, not Sienma, and she’s significantly less out of sync with her constituents than her colleague Mark Kelly
JF (e1156d) — 7/28/2021 @ 1:54 pmInfrastructure….
They say the road to Purgatory is paved with good intentions.
Isn’t that in Arizona? 😉
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 7/28/2021 @ 1:56 pmIt’s Sinema, not Sienma. . .
Thanks, changes shall be made.
JVW (ee64e4) — 7/28/2021 @ 2:03 pmIsn’t that in Arizona?
No, too hot for that.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 7/28/2021 @ 2:05 pm. . . and she’s significantly less out of sync with her constituents than her colleague Mark Kelly.
Yet she finds herself in a weird quandry, with a relatively low approval rating in her state, at least according to a left-wing polling outfit. According to them, her approval-disapproval rating in Arizona is only 44%-42% whereas Mark Kelly’s is 50%-39%. That’s because Sen. Kelly’s approval rating among Dems relative to Sen. Sinema’s is 85%-54%, whereas her approval rating among Republicans relative to his is a smaller margin of 36%-22%. Among independents, whom you would expect would appreciate Sinema, her approval to disapproval ratio is 40%-41% and his is 45%-33%. I guess that goes to show that laying low and staying out of the news is the secret to being popular in the Senate.
JVW (ee64e4) — 7/28/2021 @ 2:15 pm@5. =sigh=
‘Purgatory Canyon is a valley in Arizona and has an elevation of 2543 feet. Purgatory Canyon is situated southeast of Blakes Lambing Grounds, close to Shivwits Arch.’ – source, wikihellonearth.burnbabyburn.org
“Don’t you get sick of being right all the time?” – (sarcastically) The Sundance Kid [Robert Redford] – ‘Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid” 1969
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 7/28/2021 @ 2:17 pmKelly’s a good egg.
But I’m 10,000% biased in his favor.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 7/28/2021 @ 2:18 pmIt’s all fun and games until they read the tea leaves wrong and do something stupid to avoid deflation or something stupid to avoid inflation or the recovery “stalls” or access to credit tightens or any number of other interesting things play out.
But hey, just pay more for those minimum wage jobs because that won’t have any impact on anything.
My favorite part from one of those links:
frosty (f27e97) — 7/28/2021 @ 2:33 pmDueling headlines:
Sen. Rob Portman has asked ex-President Donald Trump to back the pending infrastructure deal
Trump tries to sabotage the Biden infrastructure deal
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/28/2021 @ 2:51 pmHopefully, Sinema keeps doing to the Democrats what McCain did to the Republicans. Pass the popcorn.
By the way, Sinema is a BYU grad. 🙂
norcal (a6130b) — 7/28/2021 @ 2:51 pmKelly’s a good egg.
He’s a rabid gun-grabber. But I agree he looks like an egg.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 7/28/2021 @ 2:55 pmSen. Rob Portman has asked ex-President Donald Trump to back the pending infrastructure deal
Yet another good-faith approach to a bad-faith person.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 7/28/2021 @ 2:57 pmNot that this matters as the GOP is focused (pro and con) on Pelosi’s circus. Meanwhile the real agenda moves forward.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 7/28/2021 @ 2:58 pmDCSCA’s idea of being correct has great similarities to Calvinball.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 7/28/2021 @ 3:00 pmShe’s certainly getting the attention she craves, just like her West Virginian fellow traveler.
If she’s smart, she’s just angling for a handout for some local heavy to help her reelection bid, but I think she’s gearing up for some major drama.
Maybe the’ll end up trading her for Murkowski.
john (cd2753) — 7/28/2021 @ 3:08 pmHow anyone can pass this bag-o-schiff that hasn’t been written is beyond traitorous. Congress needs a rope.
mg (8cbc69) — 7/28/2021 @ 3:32 pm@17. Congress needs a rope.
Storm the castle drawbridge! Barbarians at the gate!!!
Oh. Wait.
Congress forms a committee, instead.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 7/28/2021 @ 4:07 pmRIP Dusty Hill (72).
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/28/2021 @ 4:09 pm@12. He’s a rabid gun-grabber.
ROFLAOPIP!
NASA astronaut Mark Kelly, whose wife Gabby Giffords was shot in the head, still owns guns. He says Congress could do a lot more to keep people safe.
‘Kelly told Business Insider that he owns “more firearms than your average Arizonan,” and believes in the right to bear arms, but he said “we could do things to keep people safer.”‘ – source- https://www.businessinsider.com/nasa-astronaut-gun-owner-mark-kelly-calls-for-stronger-laws-2019-8
Kevin… Kevin… Kevin…
“You really are a funny guy!”- Henry Hill [Ray Liotta] – ‘Goodfellas’ 1990
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 7/28/2021 @ 4:17 pmRIP Ron Popiel, 88.
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/ron-popeil-infomercial-icon-dead
When Ron got to the Pearly Gates, St Peter couldn’t help himself and said “But wait, there’s more!”
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 7/28/2021 @ 4:31 pm@20, yeah and Obama was a hunter.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 7/28/2021 @ 4:31 pmMake that 86 for Ron. npi
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 7/28/2021 @ 4:32 pm@21 🙂 Good one.
norcal (a6130b) — 7/28/2021 @ 4:38 pmHe says Congress could do a lot more to keep people safe.
Believing that Congress can secure your safety via legislation is the grown-up’s version of believing those gifts under the tree came from Santa Claus.
JVW (ee64e4) — 7/28/2021 @ 4:55 pmDCSCA (f4c5e5) — 7/28/2021 @ 4:17 pm
Given your long history of non-sequiturs, this is one of the funnier ones.
NASA astronaut? Has what to do with guns exactly? Because NASA astronauts used to be cowboys back when they rode real rockets and drove fast cars on the beach in FL like in the movie based on the Tom Wolfe book?
You would have been better off stopping before “could do a lot more” and “believes in the right to bear arms, but”.
frosty (f27e97) — 7/28/2021 @ 5:05 pm@25. Contrary to all accolades and praise at yesterday’s hearings, eh? 😉
Save the podium!
“The most important thing to remember is: to protect your quarterback – ME!” – Paul Crewe [Burt Reynolds] ‘The Longest Yard’ 1974
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 7/28/2021 @ 5:05 pmR.I.P. Ron Popiel, 88.
Ronco’s ‘Pocket Fisherman’ didn’t net a dime off the ‘Bass-O-Matic.’
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 7/28/2021 @ 5:11 pmfrosty (f27e97) — 7/28/2021 @ 5:05 pm
Chill, frosty; See #8.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 7/28/2021 @ 5:22 pm@28: He was actually 86. You copied my mistake @21, you plagiarist!
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 7/28/2021 @ 5:41 pm“believes in the right to bear arms, but”.
The word “but” negates all before it.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 7/28/2021 @ 5:42 pmUPDATE: Oh dear, our Adorably Ornery & Clueless niece is not at all happy:
And apparently neither is Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Hamas).
JVW (ee64e4) — 7/28/2021 @ 5:45 pmIt would be wonderful if AOC gained the same hold over the Democrats as Trump gained over the GOP. Then maybe they could both lose.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 7/28/2021 @ 5:51 pmJVW, I love that Real Democrats™ are threatening to run a progressive against Sinema in her 2022 primary. It is good to see the Democrats have just as many useful idiots as the GOP.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 7/28/2021 @ 5:53 pm30. LOL Where’ve you been for the past 6 months?!?! – Plagiarism is very in these days. It’s almost presidential! Almost.
Ever tried actually fishing w/a Popiel Pocket Fisherman? A 2 lb.,fish bends the plastic rod like a hook– it is too much for it.
@31. Except it doesn’t; let’s ask his wife.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 7/28/2021 @ 6:07 pmPlease no Kevin. It’s bad enlightened their policies are terrible. If the Dems are taken over by the nut job both political parties will be run by the insane.
Time123 (020838) — 7/28/2021 @ 6:09 pm*bad enough….
Time123 (020838) — 7/28/2021 @ 6:09 pmBy the way, Sinema is a BYU grad. 🙂
So give it another 5 years and she’ll be a switch-hitting Cougar cougar.
Colonel Haiku (db083c) — 7/28/2021 @ 6:29 pmThe debate over how many trillions the package should contain reminded me of this quote:
The quote is sometimes attributed to Alexander Tytler (late 18th, early 19th century), but the true author hasn’t been proven. Regardless, it does make one think about the harms of pandering to the public and showering the people with “free” money.
norcal (a6130b) — 7/28/2021 @ 6:34 pm“The debate over how many trillions the package should contain reminded me of this quote”
For some reason we never see this quote when a Republican is president.
Davethulhu (aa6793) — 7/28/2021 @ 6:37 pmWait a minute. So, according to AOC, “bipartisan” doesn’t refer to both major political parties being represented, it means the color of one’s skin? When did that happen?
Dana (174549) — 7/28/2021 @ 6:44 pmWith the usual rino suspects voting for the looting process, communism is just around the corner.
mg (8cbc69) — 7/28/2021 @ 6:55 pmThis bill will resemble the obama trillion which left cones in the road for infrastructure.
Meanwhile Putin is rolling on the floor with a couple of Russian hookers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Fraser_Tytler,_Lord_Woodhouselee
If you follow the footnotes to the Wikipedia article on Tytler you come to a work by Loren Collins trying to chased down the quote:
http://www.lorencollins.net/tytler.html
Her conclusion:
Victor (03403d) — 7/28/2021 @ 7:08 pmhttps://notthebee.com/article/how-to-speak-bidenese
mg (8cbc69) — 7/28/2021 @ 7:10 pmIt could go global
Ideological conservatives don’t have any credibility with their whine over the size and scope of the infrastructure package for America- in fact they don’t merit any input at all- lest they forget the billions and billions blown and wasted on their nation-building middle east wars– ALL on Uncle Sam’s credit card. Bought or sold any Gulf War bonds lately? Nope. Purging the party of these wretched neocon nutbags and side-lining the Halliburton Cheney-types is one of Trump’s greatest achievements. Bechtel Nancy just doesn’t get it, either. And at 81, never will.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 7/28/2021 @ 7:51 pmShe’s had a pretty odd political career–she started off as a bomb-throwing AOC type while in the state house, only to do a 180 and become a bridge-builder after she got to the Senate. I suspect most of her unpopularity rating comes from the fact that she isn’t as partisan a Democrat as the AZ cathedral classes–particularly the urban press and universities–would like her to be, even though she’s more reflective of the state’s political bent than Mark Kelly.
Factory Working Orphan (2775f0) — 7/28/2021 @ 8:17 pmBy the way, Sinema is a BYU grad. 🙂
So give it another 5 years and she’ll be a switch-hitting Cougar cougar.
Colonel Haiku (db083c) — 7/28/2021 @ 6:29 pm
Well done!
norcal (a6130b) — 7/28/2021 @ 10:00 pm“The debate over how many trillions the package should contain reminded me of this quote”
For some reason we never see this quote when a Republican is president.
Davethulhu (aa6793) — 7/28/2021 @ 6:37 pm
That may be true for some folks, but I’m against deficit spending regardless of the party.
norcal (a6130b) — 7/28/2021 @ 10:04 pmVictor,
I agree about the questionable authorship. To me, it still has salience, however.
norcal (a6130b) — 7/28/2021 @ 10:07 pmFor some reason we never see this quote when a Republican is president.
We are at the point where both parties need to be destroyed, and we start over.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 7/28/2021 @ 11:13 pmWe are at the point where both parties need to be destroyed, and we start over.
And the start is w/t GOP– exactly what Trump and 74 million Trumpists are doing. Yet you rant against ’em.
Glorious.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 7/29/2021 @ 12:16 amRegardless, it does make one think about the harms of pandering to the public and showering the people with “free” money.
My late grandfather was a banker- the bank’s motto- ‘pay yourself first.’ Better to invest $ on Americans in Detroit, Pittsburgh… even Sranton [or is it Wilmington this week] than ‘nation build’ Middle East madness, European lifestyles or fight endlessly poinless wars to protect profit channels for a few multi-national corporations who’ve bought influence that’s paid for w/U.S. blood and treasure.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 7/29/2021 @ 12:25 am@52 I agree with you about the futility of “nation-building” in the Middle East. Colonel Klink is right about Afghanistan. We should have gone in, kicked ass, and left in 2002-3.
norcal (a6130b) — 7/29/2021 @ 12:33 am#49 I’d be curious if you could point to a state that was in fact done in by people voting themselves money. The most salient example of a government I can think of eventually destroyed by the consequences of too much debt was the French monarchy.
But I am sure you all must have some historical example in mind, otherwise you wouldn’t keep repeating this mostly bogus quote.
Victor (03403d) — 7/29/2021 @ 12:35 am@54 Venezuela
norcal (a6130b) — 7/29/2021 @ 12:47 amNicaragua, too.
norcal (a6130b) — 7/29/2021 @ 12:48 amSome great quotes from H. L. Mencken (early 20th century):
1. The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.
2. Government is a broker in pillage, and every election is a sort of advance auction in stolen goods.
3. Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance.
4. Democracy, too, is a religion. It is the worship of jackals by jackasses.
5. Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.
6. If a politician found he had cannibals among his constituents, he would promise them missionaries for dinner.
7. As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.
Hmmm
AJ_Liberty (a4ff25) — 7/29/2021 @ 2:01 amShould I stay away from the vaccinated as its proven they spread the china flu and its offspring?
mg (8cbc69) — 7/29/2021 @ 3:09 ammg (8cbc69) — 7/29/2021 @ 3:09 am
Social distancing, masking in close quarters, taking steps to stay healthy and boost your immune system seems to still be good options.
Those work whether you’ve been vaccinated or the people around you have been vaccinated. I think the safest approach wrt to reducing spread is to assume everyone isn’t vaccinated.
frosty (f27e97) — 7/29/2021 @ 5:22 am[Reposted from wrong thread. Amended too.]
People voting themselves the property of others is as good a way as any to make sure the “haves” outnumber the “havenots” at the polls. And better than most.
That’s where Venezuela, Nicaragua, and all the other sh!tholes toying with democracy went wrong. Give the suffrageriat a stake in the status quo before you give it the franchise.
Or you can trust on the sense of honor, decency, and respect for the property of others of
nk (1d9030) — 7/29/2021 @ 8:16 amIt’s easy to be the party out of power, or at least when your party doesn’t hold the White House. You can focus on opposition rather than coalition within your own ranks. Opposition is easy. Coalition – actually engaging in politics – is rather hard.
Good to see The Squad is up to the task!
Hoi Polloi (121542) — 7/29/2021 @ 9:21 am@53. Only asses that get kicked are the invaders there.
It’s where empires go to die.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 7/29/2021 @ 9:24 am‘As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.’
Or an upright “amiable dunce.” See January 20, 1981 for details.
Or an outright idiot. See January 20, 2021 for details.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 7/29/2021 @ 9:29 am“I used to drive an 18-wheeler, man,” – President Plagiarist, 7/28/21
And Hunter drove the Trans-Am as blocker, eh Joey?
‘Cause they’re thirsty in Atlanta- and there’s beer in Texarkana,’ eh, Big Guy?
Idiot.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 7/29/2021 @ 9:38 amThat may be true for some folks, but I’m against deficit spending regardless of the party.
So am I, but it does matter what the deficit spending is for. We won both WW2 and the Cold War by deficit spending. If Biden were just trying to overcome the Covid shutdowns, that would be one thing. But he’s got every last Socialist wish-list item on board. It’s actually hard to say what ISN’T in that thing.
Is anyone certain there isn’t a National Lawnmowing Service deep inside that thing?
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 7/29/2021 @ 9:52 am“I used to drive an 18-wheeler, man,” – President Plagiarist, 7/28/21
But then Dad took off the 16 training wheels.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 7/29/2021 @ 9:53 amOr you can trust on the sense of honor, decency, and respect for the property of others of
Blazing Saddles?
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 7/29/2021 @ 9:55 am“The middle class built this country, and unions built the middle class.” – President Plagiarist 7/28/21
Slaves had a Union behind them, Joey?
Oh. Right. Lincoln’s. And he was a Republican.
Didn’t Abe long-haul it w/a Conestoga, too, Joey? Or just take the train to his plane…
“It is balloon!” – Chief Wild Eagle [Frank de Kova] ‘F-Troop’ – ABC TV, 1965-1967
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 7/29/2021 @ 10:11 amBlazing Saddles.
nk (1d9030) — 7/29/2021 @ 10:13 amAdams-Sinemax 2024, if they’re smart and if they allow NYC-only stop and frisk. Someones poking the AOC voodoo doll hard:
https://news.yahoo.com/democrat-eric-adams-reportedly-revs-192100492.html
urbanleftbehind (654a1d) — 7/29/2021 @ 11:45 am@57 Thanks for the Mencken quotes, AJ. Some of them were new to me.
I remember reading about how Mencken was fond of neither teetotalers nor drunkards. Ever since then, I’ve done my best to play it right down the middle. 🙂
norcal (a6130b) — 7/29/2021 @ 4:13 pmThat Blazing Saddles piece is funny! The way it’s constructed is a masterpiece.
norcal (a6130b) — 7/29/2021 @ 4:16 pmThis Oh-So-Joe:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eke-oF3Vh6s
Right outta 1973!
Keep on truckin’ Joe!!!!!
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 7/29/2021 @ 4:53 pmRemember when Joe boogied at the after party w/Richard Roundtree and Pam Grier at the premiere of Foxy Brown on ‘Soul Train’?
Joes does!
It was the night before he flew with Corn Pop to see Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier duke it out at ‘Thrilla in Manila’– on his way to free Nelson Mandela.
“I’m serious- I really mean it!” – President Plagiarist
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 7/29/2021 @ 5:20 pmSomeones poking the AOC voodoo doll hard:
With any luck, that someone would be Greek.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 7/29/2021 @ 10:06 pm